This designer puer is created by Mr. Zou Bing Liang, a living legend of modern Chinese tea business. He has worked for 30 years (from 1957 to 1998) in Menghai Tea Factory, starting from tea grower and successfully had become the director. He was one of the researchers who invented and worked out “wo tui” technology and ripe puer itself. From 1999 until now he is the co-owner of the “Hai Wan” Tea Factory in the Yushou (Jade Longevity) Mountains in the Southern Xishuangbanna. There are several separate blocks in the Tea Factory with different climate, the total area is 50 000 m². Tea wild trees grow here, some of them are up to 800 years old. Picked tea leaves, mao cha, are processed according to the recipes designed by the Mr. Zou Bing Liang. "Ba Wang Puer" is a perfect blend of different teas. It is ripe, fully developed and a beautiful tea.
Ba Wang is the commander title of Xiang Yu (232-202 BC), the leader of the revolt that overthrew the Qin dynasty in 206 BC. He conquered all China, and declared himself Ba Wang (hegemonic ruler) and "Supreme Governor of West Chu." His former colleague in the revolt, Liu Bang (256-195 BC) got the western lands, and later started a fight for the throne with Xiang Yu. Liu Bang won this war and became emperor under the name of Gao Zu and founded the Han dynasty. Aristocrat Xiang Yu fought for the restoration of the feudal system, that had been destroyed by Qin Shi Huang Di (259-210 BC) at the time of the unification of China.
There is a description of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu nature and differences: "It was a struggle between the new and the old, the ideal of a centralized state and the ideal of feudalism, between peasants by origin and aristocrats. Liu Bang had all the advantages and disadvantages of the class. He was practical and cautious, cheerful and good-natured, well-versed in the people, but was not familiar with court manners and did not care about the honor code. He knew his class, the people. He was not constrained by emasculated ideas inspired by education, always realistically assessed the situation. He was extremely courageous and not too lucky on the battlefield. He often suffered defeat than to win in the pre-planned battles, but never lost the campaign. He never lacked the political acumen.
Xiang Yu was a classical aristocrat, representative of destroying “jun zi”, and was a person of great changes same as Liu Bang. “Hegemonic Ruler” (Ba Wang) was very high, had perfect physical body and strength. He was educated with traditional values, he was a poet, courteous and well-trained master, courageous and brave warrior, he terrified the enemy. He never lost any single battle until the very end of his career, but could not improve the victory. He was arrogant and cruel. His unbridled temper led to such extremes, which he regretted, but too late. He obeyed his allies and commanders with pride and ambition”.
“Ba Wang Puer” is a large round tea cake in a beautiful gift box. It weights 3 kg (equivalent to about ~ 8.5 standard 357gr. tea cakes). The cake is dense, but easily stratified by puer knife. The raw material is homogeneous, it consists of dark brown and brown twisted leaves of medium size, stems fragments and red buds. Tea bottom shows that the blend is made up of a large number of ingredients known only to Mr. Zuo Bing Liang. The aroma is pure, typical for ripe puer, with nutty and dried fruits hints. The clear liquor is bright with red-brown tint.
The bouquet of brewed tea is balanced and polyphonic. Subtle nuances of camphor wood moss and dried berries interspersed with oily nutty notes, sweetness of prunes is balanced by chocolate bitterness. The aroma is pure, nutty and berry. The aftertaste is thick and velvety with a light acidity and astringency that just emphasize the feeling of strength and power, but they do not spoil a great taste. The tea releases very interesting, every cup brings a new sound, but the basic tone is lasting. It is very long lasting tea and it ends smoothly and gently.
The crushed piece of puer is brewed with 95°С hot water in the yixing tea pot for ripe puers or in the thick walled gaiwan. Take 5-6 grams for 120-150 ml vessel. Don’t steep first infusions, it is quite strong! After the six infusions increase the infusion time gradually. The tea goes 12 infusions.
This is an excellent puer with gorgeous taste and strong effect. It balances emotions, harmonizes with the stream of life. It is one of the perfect teas that sends the energy to the most necessary place at the moment.
